The face of Jesus…in grease

The face of Jesus seems to pop up everywhere these days. The latest is from my birthplace, Harrogate, in a greasy baking tray.
You can read the story in the local paper, but for the pic you’ll need to go to that bastion of truth, The Sun.

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No sex please, we’re preambling

The recent Assembly hasn’t generated a media frenzy; after all, it wasn’t about sex. But Christopher Pearson has written a critical piece in the Weekend Oz on both the process and the decision to alter the preamble of the Uniting Church Constitution to recognise the place of Indigenous peoples, and to recognise that God was [...]

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Fools say…

Sermon for 26 July 2009
As we listen for the Word of God,
let us pray:
God our maker,
you formed the world and all that is in it,
and you desire all people to share its plenty;
help us to look for the possibilities you bring,
that we may be fed by your justice,
for the sake of Christ. Amen.
READING
2 Samuel 11.1-15
Psalm [...]

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More of the same?

A thought-provoking reflection by Alison Atkinson-Phillips on the current Assembly meeting. I don’t agree with it all, but it’s well worth reading (for more stories, go here):
Sunday, 19 July 2009 04:57
As he presented the report of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress to the Uniting Church’s 12th Assembly on the evening of July 16, [...]

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Trade Justice

I want to mention a few things about Assembly…I’ll talk about some highlights soon. However, I had to leave early with a flare up of an old back problem. It should be ok soon, but I’m just taking it easy.
I was happy to see that UnitingWorld’s Trade Justice paper was adopted yesterday. It challenges free [...]

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I wish…

This Dave Walker cartoon has a context. I wish it applied to me—I can’t even keep my pencils arranged neatly!

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Greet death unafraid

Sermon for 12 July 2009
As we listen for the Word of God,
let us pray:
God our refuge and strength,
you call us to give ourselves to Christ,
whether life is long or brief;
ground us in your love
and anchor us in your grace,
that we may find peace and joy
in knowing you;
this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
READING
Ephesians 1.3-14
Mark 6.14-29
I [...]

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Grace sufficient

Sermon for 5 July 2009
As we listen for the Word of God,
let us pray:
Jesus, friend and Lord,
we limit you by our notions;
help us to go wherever your Spirit leads,
knowing that your power alone
keeps us on the road of faith
now and for ever. Amen.
READING
2 Corinthians 12.2-10
Mark 6.1-13
There’s a different gospel going around these days, and it’s [...]

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Clog Dancing

I saw an article about clog dancing in The Yorkshire Dalesman today. I remember dad talking about it as something that happened in his childhood, and I wondered what it was like.
I realised that YouTube would likely be a place I could see what it’s like. I wasn’t wrong!
While my late dad would enjoy this [...]

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Agnus Day—lectionary humour

The Agnus Day comic strip often tickles my sense of humour. Here’s its take on the Gospel for this Sunday, Mark 6.1-13 (click to enlarge):

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